AFTERMATH OF THE 9-11 TERRORIST ATTACK

VERBAL ATTACKS ON PAGANS, etc.

Sponsored link.

Quotations:

"...in the long run, this war can only be won if people of differing
faiths, and no faith at all, are able to learn to live with each other – as,
for the most part, and underlying this nation’s strength, they have in
America." Andrew Tobias 1

"I really believe that the Pagans,
and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and
the lesbians, ... the ACLU, People For the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America
- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this [terrorist attack] happen." Jerry Falwell,
700 Club, 2001-SEP-13. 2

Jerry Falwell is the Senior Pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church and
the Chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. He founded
and heads the "Old Time Gospel Hour" program, which is broadcast weekly
via many U.S. television networks. The program also appears on Canadian
television. However, because of Canada's more restrictive hate laws which
protect minorities from media attack, it is sometimes an edited version of the
program seen in the U.S.

2001-SEP-13: "700 Club" exchange: On Pat Robertson's "700 Club" TV program,
two days after the tragedy, guest Jerry Falwell said via satellite hookup, that "God will not be
mocked." He noted that:

The wall of
separation between church and state is being promoted by groups such as
the American Civil Liberties Union and People For the
American Way. These groups argue constitutional cases before the courts in order to
maintain "the wall" in government offices and in the public schools, and

He concluded that God became sufficiently angry at America that he
engineered the terrorist attack -- presumably to send Americans a message.

On the TV program, Jerry Falwell initially said that the American Civil
Liberties Union has "to take a lot of blame for" the tragedy. Pat
Robertson agreed. Falwell then continued: "And, I know that I'll hear from
them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal
court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The
abortionists have
got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we
destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe
that the Pagans,
and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the
gays and the lesbians
who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU,
People For the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America
- I point the finger in their face and say 'you helped this happen.' "
Robertson responded: "Well, I totally concur..." 2

It is not clear what Dr. Falwell meant by the word "Paganism."
Like so many religious terms, it has multiple, unrelated meanings. It is often
use to refer to:

Any individuals or groups that the speaker wishes to attack. In this
sense, it is a general purpose snarl word.

Ancient Pagan religions, active during biblical times, as in worshipers
of Baal and Isis in the ancient Middle East.

Neopaganism,
which is the only family of religious traditions in America whose members
use the term "Pagan" to identify themselves.

We suspect that he is referring to Neopagans, primarily to
Wiccans, who
number perhaps 750,000
in the U.S. They are the only group in the U.S. who identify themselves as
Pagans. We have sent several Email to his organization at
jerry@falwell.com to verify
this. We have not received a response as of 2005-SEP-05; we have given up hope
of ever receiving one.

It is also not clear from his brief statement how followers of a group of
very spiritual religious traditions (Paganism in this case) have been promoting the
secularization of America.

Later that day, Ralph G. Neas, president of the People for the American Way
(PFAW) posted a comment on the 700 Club exchange. 2 He said, in part: "I am
deeply saddened that in the wake of this week's devastating terrorist attacks,
Religious Right political leaders Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell have chosen
the path of division rather than unity....This is a time for a shared national
commitment to bringing those responsible for the terrorist attacks to justice.
It is also a time to renew our commitment to protecting the constitutional
liberties and democratic values that sustain our free society. Today's
comments by Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell can only impede efforts to bring
the nation together in pursuit of these goals."

At 23:20 hrs, CNN started to report on the 700 Club statement. Their
scrolling message at the bottom of the screen repeatedly gave a
much-abbreviated version of Falwell's full statement. It read: "Rev. Jerry
Falwell says he blames Pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays and lesbians for
bringing on the terror attack in New York [City] and Washington."

2001-SEP-13: James Robison agrees with Falwell: Robison of
Euless, TX hosts a popular conservative Christian television program "Life
Today." Reporter Laurie Goodstein reported that he "concurred [with
Jerry Falwell] but emphasized a different catalog of what he saw as sins:
arrogance in relationships with Third World and foreign countries,
plundering other countries for resources while supporting their despots,
and indifference to others' poverty and pain." Mr. Robison said. "Any
time you get away from God, you do become vulnerable," "If it is a parent
who stays out all night, the children become vulnerable and are left to
fend for themselves. Bad judgment always leaves the door open to
perpetrators of pain." 3

2001-SEP-14: Reversal by Dr. Falwell: On the next day, he seems to
have reversed his stance. He briefly placed
a clarification on his web site which negated his entire 700 Club statement. He
no longer blamed God directly (and both Pagans and various liberal groups
indirectly) for the attack. Falwell wrote: "I hold no one other than the terrorists
and the people and nations who have enabled and harbored them responsible for
Tuesday's attacks on this nation." He later blamed the media for incompetent reporting;
he said that they had reduced his thoughts to sound bites, took his discussion out of
context, and distorted his position. 4This statement has since been removed.

2001-SEP-14: First Christian
Broadcasting Network news release: Pat Robertson confirmed Jerry
Falwell's theme. He repeated what he believes are the major sins of America:
access to abortion, secularism, and separation of church and state, He added
new sins that Falwell did not include: "pornography on the
Internet," "the occult, etc...on television." Finally, he wrote: "We have insulted God at the highest level of our government. Then, we
say, 'Why does this happen?' It is happening because God Almighty is lifting
His protection from us. Once that protection is gone, we are vulnerable
because we are a free society." 5 He deviated
from Jerry Falwell's original belief that God directly engineered the tragedy.
Robertson said that God merely removed his protection from America. This allowed
terrorists to strike. He holds the traditional Evangelical Christian
position that God has provided a shield that protects the country against
horrendous events. Robertson said in his written statement: "In no way has
any guest on my program suggested that anyone other than the Middle East
terrorists were responsible for the tragic events that took place on
Tuesday." ??

2001-SEP-14: White House disapproval: A White House
representative informed Dr. Falwell that the president disapproved of his 700 Club
statement. Ken Lisaius, a White House spokesperson, said: "The
president believes that terrorists are responsible for these acts. He does
not share those views, and believes that those remarks are inappropriate."
??

2001-SEP-17: Apology by Dr. Falwell: The Associated Press announced
that Dr. Falwell had apologized for his remarks on the 700 Club. 6 They reported that "Falwell, a Baptist minister and
chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., also expressed a belief
shared by other evangelicals that divine protection is withdrawn from nations
that violate God's will. However, some Christian thinkers warned there was no
way to know which sin led to which punishment. On Monday, [SEP-17]
Falwell agreed. 'When I talked about God lifting the curtain of protection on
our nation, I should have made it very clear that no one on this earth knows
whether or not that occurred or did not occur,' he said. He said if the
destruction was a judgment from God it was a judgment on all sinners,
including himself."

Falwell also told the Associated Press
interviewer that no one from the evangelical community or the White House
had pressured him to apologize.

2001-SEP-17: Second Christian
Broadcasting Network news release: The news release, written by Pat
Robertson, addressed comments made earlier by Jerry Falwell. Robertson wrote: "Toward
the end of the program, The 700 Club producers had booked Jerry Falwell for a
satellite interview. Rev. Falwell’s initial remarks were completely in accord
with what had been said in preceding parts of the program, and then,
unexpectedly, he uttered a political statement of blame directed at certain
segments of the population that was severe and harsh in tone, and, frankly,
not fully understood by the three hosts of The 700 Club who were watching Rev.
Falwell on a monitor." The news release continued by blaming the People
for the American Way for taking "statements out of context and spin
them to the press for their own political ends." 7
Robertson did not give specifics on how the PFAW distorted his message of
SEP-11. They seem to have quoted his words precisely and completely.

2001-SEP-18: Written apology: The SEP-14 statement on Jerry
Falwell's web site was removed and replaced by an apology. Falwell said, in
part: "...on the 700 Club...I made a statement that I should not have made
and which I sincerely regret. I apologize that, during a week when everyone
appropriately dropped all labels and no one was seen as liberal or
conservative, Democrat or Republican, religious or secular, I singled out for
blame certain groups of Americans." He did not say that his attack on
Pagans and others was wrong; merely that it "was insensitive."

He continued by saying that the attack on Pagans and others was "uncalled
for at the time, and unnecessary as part of the commentary on this
destruction." This would seem to imply that religious intolerance of
Pagans and his other verbal attacks will be acceptable at some future date
when the memories of the terrorist attack are not as strong.

He continued: "I do not know if the horrific events of September 11 are the
judgment of God, but if they are, that judgment is on all of America --
including me and all fellow sinners -- and not on any particular group."

"My statements were understandably called divisive by some, including those
whom I mentioned by name in the interview. This grieves me, as I had no
intention of being divisive."

"In conclusion, I blame no one but the hijackers and terrorists for the
barbaric happenings of September 11." 8

2001-SEP-18: William F. Buckley Jr. comments on the 700 Club exchange.

Buckley referred to an editorial in the Greensboro (NC) News & Record,
which said that "people who hold positions of religious leadership have a
responsibility to think before they speak and to consider the implications
of what they are about to say. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson failed that
test in a most revolting way. They have forfeited any claim to Christian
leadership."

Buckley quoted economic analyst Andy Tobias who wrote: "Falwell and
Robertson have convinced themselves that when a hurricane hit Virginia Beach
(Robertson's neck of the woods), there's no meaning to it, and that when a
hurricane fails to hit Orlando as predicted in retribution for Disney's
equal rights policies for gays, there's no meaning to it, and that when AIDS
devastates the (straight) population of Africa, or 6 million innocent Jews
and 3 million innocent Cambodians are exterminated, God merely works in
mysterious ways. But when religious fanatics crash planes into the World
Trade Center because they believe it will take them to a special place in
heaven, this is not caused by a fanatic religious certitude greater in
degree but not entirely dissimilar from their own. Rather they conclude that
it is caused, at least in part, because people like me have made God mad."
1 (Tobias is gay and is the treasurer of the Democratic
National Committee) "

Buckley wrote: "What Falwell did was to accumulate his complaints
against the engines of a secularized America and invoke God as an avenger.
His complaints against abortion, gay rights and the end of prayer at school
boiled down to God vs. the ACLU, the attack on the World Trade Center being
a divine shot across the bow of the Supreme Court...As it is true that the
acts of terrorists befall everyone, it is no less true that there are
reasons for everyone to repent, in this context most notably Osama bin
Laden, but also Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, and yea, even members of
the Supreme Court." 9

2001-SEP-20: LA Times quotes local groups' reaction to
Falwell's statement: The LA Times sampled local opinion
on Dr. Falwell's attack:

The Rev. Dan Smith of the West Hollywood Presbyterian Church called
Falwell's remarks "an outrageous affront to religion."

Marshall Wong, of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission
said: "The last thing we need is anybody fanning the flames of hatred
in a time of national crisis."

Martha Matthews of the American Civil Liberties Union commented: "Just
by saying that, Jerry Falwell has firmly established himself in the
lunatic fringe of America."

Steve Martin , a West Hollywood City Councilman said he will introduce
a resolution condemning Falwell at Monday's council meeting.

2001-SEP-20: Falwell apologizes on TV: During an interview with
Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, Falwell apologized for his remarks.
He said that he: "misspoke totally and entirely." He acknowledged
that his remarks were "a stupid statement and indefensible." He
asked for forgiveness from the groups that he singled out for attack, and
from the rest of the American people. 10

2001-SEP-20: Times Record News of Wichita Falls, TX comments:
Judith McGinnis, columnist for the Times Record News commented: "At a
time when Americans of all faiths need to join hands and face the future
in unity, Christian conservative mouthpieces like Jerry [Falwell] and
James [Pat Robertson?] want to whip up a frenzy of cowering fear.
'Repent,' they shriek, 'or more shall be rained down on your heads.'
...Supposedly Falwell has apologized for his rash remarks, but only
because his funding dried up practically overnight. May the same happen to
every form of organized or even disorganized intolerance in this country.
It's time for thinking citizens to tune them out, turn them off and
remember the tenets of democracy that keep our nation strong."
11

2001-SEP-28: Walter Cronkite blasts Jerry Falwell & Pat Robertson:
Writing in the upcoming TV Guide, Cronkite
called Falwell's comments "the most abominable thing
I've ever heard...It makes you wonder if [Falwell and Roberson are]
worshipping the same God as the people who bombed the Trade Center and the
Pentagon." 12

2001-SEP-29: Lack of response from Christian leaders: It is
almost two weeks after the attack by Jerry Falwell against Pagans and
others. To date, we have seen many criticisms of his remarks from secular
sources, but only one comment by a Christian leader -- that of Rev. Dan
Smith's response to a newspaper reporter, described above. We have learned
that the next Christian Research Journal will contain an editorial
about insensitive and provocative responses to the tragedy by Christian
leaders in its "From the Editor" column. But otherwise, there is
silence. This will probably be interpreted by many members of the public
as acquiescence.

2001-OCT-29: Comments by Christian clergy: A number of clergy
have criticized Falwell and Robertson's comments during interviews
initiated by newspaper reporters:

Rev. Forrest Sheffield is pastor of Harrisburg Baptist Church in
Tupelo, MS. He said: "...this could be a wake-up call for all
America. I don't necessarily believe that God is the one who caused
something like this to happen, but God can take advantage of any
adversity to get our attention and bring a spiritual revival."

The Rev. William Shack is pastor of St. Paul Outreach Missionary
Baptist Church in Tupelo, MS. He also rejected the concept that God
caused the terrorist attacks. He said: "It's more a thing of Satan. But
there are some good things that can come out of it. One of those is the
coming together of this nation and also that we are going to have to
depend more on God."

The Rev. Milton Winter is pastor of First Presbyterian Church in
Holly Springs, MS. He strongly disagreed with Falwell's statement: "Jerry
Falwell and Osama bin Laden essentially believe that God is angry with
America over the same things. "Osama was willing to take matters in his
own hands. Falwell was content to pronounce what bin Laden did in the
name of his Allah as the righteous judgment of the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ. Like bin Laden, Falwell and Robertson deeply distrust
civil liberties. In a world ruled by either set of fundamentalists,
civil liberties would perish. Dr. Falwell ought to thank his lucky stars
for the ACLU, because if freedom of religion and freedom of speech were
abolished in America, his would likely be one of the first voices to be
silenced. To some, such as the Revs. Falwell and Robertson, God behaves
like a terrorist, crashing planes, blowing up buildings, and expressing
judgmental rage like some cosmic two-year old in a tantrum that the
world he made has gone awry. It is rather like the pagan notion of Zeus,
hurling his lightning bolts upon sinners below. But in the Greek myths,
Zeus at least was able to aim. It seems to me that if God wanted to
destroy the ACLU, he could have hit their office instead of thousands of
innocent bystanders. One thing I do know is that our nation must come
together - all of its people, and the sort of politics and preaching
that pits one group against another - the old-fashioned name for it is
demagoguery - must stop. We have tolerated ignorance in the pulpit long
enough."

The Rev. Bryan Owen is the deacon-in-charge of the Episcopal Church
of the Incarnation in West Point, MS. He said: "In my mind, Falwell's
statement flies in the face of what we're called to be as Christians. I
can understand the anger, but to me it's morally reprehensible to say
something like that. I have a hard time believing in a God who would try
to wake up American by having thousands of innocent people killed. That
is not the kind of God we find revealed in Jesus Christ. If the murder
of thousands of men, women, and children happened with either God's
active will or God's tacit consent, then the God of Jerry Falwell is a
terrorist. The majority of Anglicans regard such a view of God as
anathema to the gospel of Jesus Christ." 10

2001-DEC-5: USA: Pat Robertson attacks the Wiccan
religion -- maybe: On his "700 club" program, Robertson
interviewed Caryl Matrisciana of Jeremiah Films. They were
discussing her recent video concerning the Harry
Potter™ books. She is distressed
that the books are being read in public schools. She equates the fantasy
witchcraft found in these books with an unrelated established Neopagan
religion, Wicca. She concluded that schools are
violating the principle of separation of church and
state. After the interview, Robertson made a list of the main reasons
why a country like the U.S. could invoke divine displeasure. He talked "about
God lifting his anointing his mantle from the United States of America."
The first item on the list was "Witchcraft." It is not known
whether Robertson is referring to:

Fantasy witchcraft (which doesn't exist outside of
novels), or

The religion of Wicca, or

The hurting or killing people by verbal curses --
sometimes called "witchcraft" in the Bible, or

Other reasons on his list is the decriminalization of
sodomy; the practices of bestiality and incest; and abortion access. ("Sodomy" is a term that
is often used by Fundamentalist Christians to refer to homosexual
behavior.)

He concluded: "We're doing all the things
that God said were so repugnant that the land itself would be repulsed and
would vomit its inhabitants out. And, if there was ever a time that we
need God's blessing, it's now. We don't need to bring in heathen, pagan
practices to the United States of America. We need to call on God and ask
him for revival." Some unstable individuals might interpret this as a
call to physically attack religious minorities. 13

2001-DEC-6: Vast majority of Americans reject
Falwell's belief about God: The Pew Research Center for the People
& the Press conducted a public opinion poll among 1,500 adults on
NOV-13 to 19. The margin of error is within 3 percentage points. "Most
respondents -- 89%--completely or mostly rejected the idea that the
attacks were a sign God was not protecting the United States. Evangelists
Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson had made that argument, then later
apologized for the remarks." 14

2001-SEP-17: At about 13 minutes and 40 seconds into his Focus on the Family
daily radio program, Dr. James Dobson said: "I also pray that the Lord
will bring a national revival that will sweep through our nation and pull
us back from the wickedness and the Paganism that's engulfed us in recent
years." It is not clear whether Dobson is attacking the 750,000
Neopagans in the U.S. or is using the term "Paganism" in some other way.
As noted elsewhere, it is a term that has multiple meanings. On
2001-SEP-18, we faxed Focus, requesting a clarification of Dr. Dobson's
statement. Almost four years later, as of 2005-SEP-04, they
have not yet replied. We have given up hoping for a response. 16

Author's comments:

The comments by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson were seriously criticized by
many secular individuals and groups, including a non-profit agency working for
separation of church and state, newspaper editor, economist, political
commentator, and the President of the United States. Yet, as Jerry Falwell has
said,
no one from the Evangelical Christian community pressured him to apologize. We have
searched the Internet, TV news programs, and the local, national, and international media in vain for some criticism of their statements
by other leaders of the Christian community. A few have criticized Falwell
during interviews initiated by reporters. But, to our knowledge, none have made
independent statements. Some of the public will interpret this silence by
fellow Christian leaders as demonstrating their agreement with Falwell and Robertson's statements of
hatred against religions and secular movements.